Online Learning: How to improve our online experience.

Posted: December 1^st 2011

Jamie Newburg

By Jamie Newburg

As the Fall 2011 semester wraps up and Christmas break approaches all students desire is to quickly finish up their terms and head home for a relaxing holiday with friends and family.

While this is true and deserved there is one reality all students across the country need to be aware of…the 2^nd half of the year is quickly approaching. Just like in a sporting event or in any competition a school year is a tale of 2 halves. So in the hustle and bustle of the holiday’s college students need to be concerning themselves with registering for their next semester’s classes along with preparing for them with supplies and needs.

For many students this is no big deal, just sit down with your local college advisor and discuss how to frame and piece together your schedule for the next few weeks. This process doesn’t faze the students who are full time and attend the campus. They can have their class schedules set as all courses are available to them and there are many seats per course available at their fingertips.

“It is a very confusing process and very difficult to find availability in the exact course you need to complete your major,” These were the words of fellow Anoka-Ramsey community college student Jared Antilla who is studying Kinesiology.

Jared expressed the weeks and days leading up to his enrollment in courses at Anoka-Ramsey as “very stressful” and said he was “ unsure if he would get in to any courses that would actually benefit him and his major.”

Jared was recruited out of high school to play collegiate soccer. After exploring many different programs and opportunities to play in college, Jared had decided on “Northland International University.” The school had recruited Jared heavily since the 9^th grade and was excited to have him apart of their school and soccer program.

Jared was excited and the weeks leading up to the start of school were counting down quickly. “ I had prepared all summer and was ready to begin my new life of playing soccer and being a full time student.”

Just weeks before Jared was set to leave he received a letter from “NIU” stating that there had been an issue with his high school transcripts and all of his credits transferring over. The situation turned confusing and was very difficult to sort out in such a small time frame being that Jared only had weeks to complete it before he would begin classes.

Jared and his family both decided that a year of community college would help him in many ways. This would also give him another opportunity to improve his academic situation for a future 4-year institution.

He explored “Century College” and “Dakota Community” but eventually chose to take on-line classes through “Anoka-Ramsey Community College” and their D2L online system.

“ I saw the online classes as a way for me too have freedom to work and enjoy downtime as well as earning an education at my own pace.”

With all the unexpected problems and late changes in plans Jared had to rush to get into classes and courses that would count in a positive way toward his eventual desired major. He had trouble finding any classes that would work for him, and expressed long conversations on the phone and long meetings with advisors to try and resolve his issues.

“ I felt like I wasn’t even going to get to go to school at all this year, everyone of the advisors told me I would be just fine finding my classes but my attempts turned into long frustrating sessions with advisors and administration.”

Jared was forced to settle for some classes that would be beneficial, but not necessarily transferable to his area of study. After registering and finally completing the process Jared was plagued with lots of begging course late work and felt very behind right off the bat.

Jared is now enjoying his experience here at Anoka but definitely recommends either a larger selection with more seats of courses or a better option for those students who were forced to make a rushed decision due to special circumstances.

blog #11

Cash Money Records

Los Angeles, California

Drake releases his third album titled “take Care”

            Hip-Hop artist “Drake” will release his third album on November 15^th, 2011 entitled “Take Care”. The album will be released under the “Cash Money Records” record label. This will be his third album released with cash money records. The album is headlined with the major single entitled “ I’m so proud of you.”

            The album featured stars such as, Nikki Minaj , Lil Wayne, and Rhianna. There are high expectations for the album as his first two records went platinum.

            Allan Geoffrey Hodak has been a great mentor to many of his students and faculty that he has influenced with his many years in education. He also has affected the lives of many of his players that have had the opportunity to play under him in basketball, but being a coach or a teacher is not Mr. Hodaks’ job, he is simply a leader. His full intentions are to make sure you are a well-rounded individual and ready to make a positive stamp on the world by the time you graduate from his school.

            Allan grew up in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. His childhood was less than glamorous. He grew up in a single parent home, raised by his mother. His neighborhood was very poor as Allan described it as “a ghetto.” He gives accounts of being robbed in his home multiple times and seeing drugs effect lives every day. Seeing these things would give him a tough mentality that he would carry with him throughout his life and still carries it with him today.

            In high- school Allan really excelled in athletics. He soon became one of the best prep baseball players in the entire state of Arizona, as he was a star outfielder. He also played basketball where he also excelled. Allan had dreams of playing division one college baseball and those dreams looked like a reality until an outfield collision gave him a concussion that forced him to sit out his entire junior season of high school baseball. He then lost his passion for the game of baseball. Allan then spent hours in the gym exploring his newly found passion, basketball. Although he did not know it at the time, basketball would become a large part of his life and he would use it as a tool to both teach and coach, but also relate to players and teach them about life. Allan had an outstanding senior season in basketball with his team finishing third in the state; he played a crucial role on the team. After high school Allan was waiting for an opportunity to pursue a criminal justice degree and also continue his basketball dreams. He enrolled at local community college in Phoenix where he would play a year of basketball and begin working on his Criminal Justice degree. During his year of ball he dominated most competition and led his team to a winning record. He even had the opportunity to go head to head with future NBA all-star and Champion Byron Scott. The summer between his freshman and sophomore year while playing in a pick-up basketball game Allan tore his ACL and MCL and his playing career never recovered. He would never play competitively again; this was a crushing blow for a 19 year-old with a bright athletic future.

            After realizing his time playing was done he decided to transfer to Arizona State University to complete his degree as he had set a goal to become a policeman. He finished his degree and was selected to train with Phoenix Police Department. He passed his training and became an official member of law enforcement. He had accomplished and received the job he had strived for since he was in junior high school, but ironically before his first real day on the job he had second thoughts about his new profession. He realized that all his life he had loved sports and loved the idea of competition. He decided right there and then that he would pursue his love for teaching and coaching.

            Allan would get a job at a local grocery store and soon worked his way up to become a manager, while on the side coaching an elementary boys basketball team.

            From there Allan would marry Allyson and he would get a job becoming the administrator for a small Christian school in Central Michigan He would look over the school and coach basketball. He never would have pictured himself in this position years before, but he was very content.

            In 2003 Allan and his wife would move to Chisago City, MN. There he would spend 7 years being the administrator and coaching both the women and men’s basketball teams.

            Allan’s life is a true testament of how quickly our idea of what our life will look like can change from what it does look like. He let his life be transformed and led in a positive way and is very inspiring to all around him

Anoka –Ramsey Soccer Program Prospers Under Head Coach

            Anoka-Ramsey Community College Soccer Coach Brady Eichhorn-Hicks has drastically turned around the schools’ soccer program into one of the most successful men’s programs in the region. Coach Hicks has coached the men since the 2009 season, but what will forever put his name in A.R.’s history is his work with the women’s program. Coach Hicks was instrumental in creating the first competitive collegiate women’s’ soccer team here at A.R and also had the honor of being the very first head coach of our women’s’ soccer program.

            Coach Hicks soccer credentials are extensive and impressive, to say the least.

His love for the game started at a young age where he played youth soccer at the age 5. At a very young age he fell in love with the game and decided to completely dedicate himself to the sport. Coach Hicks, “When I was a kid, I was not a natural soccer player, but I loved it .I realized if I worked hard I could be good at it.” Coach Hicks obviously worked at it, as he went on to have success through high school where it would be only the beginning of his playing career.

            Coach went on to the University of Minnesota where he would play on their club soccer team for all 4 of his collegiate years. A persons’ last collegiate game, in most cases, is their final chance at competitive soccer; however this wasn’t the case for Coach Hicks. He would go on after his time at the U of M to play for the Twin Cities Phoenix, a local semi-professional team. He would have a few short gigs with some other professional teams, but injury plagued he was forced to end competitive play. At this time is when his coaching career began.

            Hicks started his coaching experience by coaching the Spring Lake Park High School girl’s soccer team. He would take the job in 2005. The girls would go on to win the North Suburban Conference Championship 3 straight years only losing a combined total of 2 conference games. He was quickly making a name for himself in the Minnesota coaching ranks. His early success also allowed him to coach the 2006 Women’s’ State Select Team where he would play the assistant coach role, that team ended up winning the Midwest region championship.

            What Coach brings to Anoka – Ramsey? Coach Hicks brings experience, a successful winning past, a burning passion and knowledge for the game, and a desire to see his players get better each at each and every opportunity. The Golden Rams players and Coach Hicks will strive to make our community and college proud with outstanding play and sportsmanship.

           

Story #5

Men’s Soccer Snags 3^rd Straight Region XIII Championship!

The Anoka Ramsey Community College men’s soccer team captured their 3^rd consecutive Region XIII championship by defeating local rival, Century Community College this past Sunday on the Anoka-Ramsey campus soccer field.

The game began at 2:30 Sunday afternoon. It was a cool and cloudy day with on and off rain showers throughout. The combination of weather and the women’s game before- hand left the field’s playing surface in a messy and sloppy condition. However , the Golden Rams would adapt to the conditions and they would not be denied on their home pitch.

The Golden Rams wasted no time as Freshman mid-fielder Adem Jillo , from Irondale High , put in his first goal of the game, and 13^th on the year  with twenty-eight minutes remaining in the first half. Just Minutes later, Atanas Karagyaurov, a Freshman forward out of Elk River High School put one in the back of the net. The Rams led 2-0 with 25 minutes left in the first half. They would posses the ball well and hold their lead going into halftime.

The players returned to the field in hopes of holding off Centuries counter-attack and securing the victory and the Championship. The Golden Rams came out much less aggressive than the first half and looked to have backed off the pedal a bit. They were playing to protect their lead as they didn’t need to score. There were not many offensive opportunities in the second half. The defense played tough and tight. Mid-way through the half, Jillo would get behind the defense one more time and score his 2^nd goal of the contest. This killed the Wood-ducks hopes of Victory and secured the win for the Golden Rams. They would coast to a very comfortable 3-0 victory.

Coach Eichhorn-Hicks had a few comments on his team’s performance. “The game on Sunday was a nice comfortable victory.  The team is very confident with the ball and we keep possession very well.  The boys did a great job of controlling the tempo of the game early on and making Century chase the game.  We never allowed Century to get any time with the ball and put them under pressure from the opening whistle.”.

“ Century worked hard but we have a lot of talent this year and were just a little too strong for them.”

Sophomore mid-fielder from Elk River High School, Veselin Karagyaurov , was named the Region XIII player of the year after the game on Sunday. Other recognitions went to head coach Brady Eichhorn-Hicks as he had the great honor of being named the region’s Coach of the Year recipient. These are great accomplishments for your fellow Golden Rams!

Up next for the team will be Triton College from Illinois on Saturday. The game will be held on the Anoka-Ramsey campus and kickoff will begin at 1. This game will be for the District C championship and the winner will move on to the National Tournament held in New York.

story #4

            Family Time is the most Cherished Moments to a Mother

            Jamie Haddox is a 27 year -old woman pursuing a career in journalism here at Anoka Ramsey Community College. She is a  full time worker with deluxe working as a coach. Jamie is a homeowner, and she lives in Blaine with her 3 year old son and the Father of her son. Jamie enjoys: music ,concerts ,movies , writing, and museums. What Jamie enjoys most of all though, is anything and everything she can do with her 3 year old son.  Her Son occupies the majority of her free time in her life and Jamie enjoys every second she has with him. Jamie is a very loving mother and loves being with her family.

            One activity in particular that Jamie enjoys is spending time at the families cabin located on Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota. The cabin is owned by her boyfriend’s parent’s. On a normal ‘cabin’ weekend during the summer, Jamie and her family would be spending most of the time enjoying lake activities outside. Fishing, swimming are just a couple of the many activities the family enjoys together. When they are done playing, you might see them enjoying a drink and a nice book, just relaxing on a nice summer day at the lake. At night the family enjoys bonfires and roasting marshmallows.

            It is obvious that Jamie loves her weekends at the lake, what is even more obvious and apparent is simply Jamie’s dedication and love to her son and her family.

interview questions

What do you enjoy doing?

Being with son who is 4 being with family. Doing anything that she can do with her son, outdoor concerts zoos museums amusement parks reading him books and watching movies. Sounds like she really enjoys time at her cabin

Where is your cabin located?

 On Lake Vermillion

Why do you like going to your cabin?

Valuable time spent with family and get to be with your son who is a major part in your life. It is just relaxing.

Who do you go with?

Family!

Who owns your cabin

Boyfriends parents.

What do you normally do at your cabin when you are there

Read books have bonfires fish swim just lounge and relax and just enjoy the time together.